Scroll fluid machine having orbiting scroll rolling support member

Abstract

The present invention provides a scroll fluid machine comprising a fixed scroll unit 100, an orbiting scroll unit 200, a main frame 300 having three bearings 312, 322 and 332 disposed corresponding to the three bearings 221a, 221c and 221c of the orbiting scroll unit 200, a power transmission shaft 310 coupled to the bearing 221a of the orbiting scroll unit 200 and the main frame 300; and a pair of opposite rotation preventing shafts 320 and 330, further comprising a rolling support device 400 for the orbiting scroll unit comprised of a plate-shaped retainer cage 410 and a plurality of balls 420 made of a hard material and rollably accommodated in the accommodation holes 430 of the plate-shaped retainer cage 410 and disposed between the orbiting scroll unit 200 and the main frame 300, and a means for guiding rolling of the balls of the rolling support device 400, thereby decreasing the abrasion of the contact surface of the orbiting scroll unit with the rolling support device and the contact surface of the main frame with the rolling support device, restraining deformation of the orbiting scroll unit caused by the pressure of a working fluid, extending the life span of the scroll fluid machines to provide many economical advantages, and making it possible to improve the thermal efficiency of the machine by making the machine with stainless steel which has low heat transfer coefficients and does not need extra corrosion resistance treatment leading to the problem of possible increase of geometric tolerance of the material.

1 . A scroll fluid machine having a rolling support device for the orbiting scroll unit comprising;
 a fixed scroll unit having an inlet port ( 111 ) and an outlet port ( 112 ) for a working fluid and a fixed scroll wrap ( 120 ) formed on one surface of a base plate thereof;   an orbiting scroll unit ( 200 ) comprising an orbiting scroll wrap ( 210 ) formed on the center part of one surface of a base plate thereof, the orbiting scroll wrap being facingly engaged with the fixed scroll wrap ( 120 ) with a phase difference of 180° with respect to or relative to the fixed scroll wrap ( 120 ), and three protruding wings ( 220   a ,  220   b  and  220   c ) with a pair of opposite bearing housings having bearings ( 221   b  and  221   c ) and an intermediate bearing housing having a bearing ( 221   a ) therein;   a main frame ( 300 ) having a pair of opposite bearings ( 322  and  332 ) and one intermediate bearing ( 312 ) disposed corresponding to the three bearings ( 221   b ,  221   c  and  221   a ) of the orbiting scroll unit ( 200 ), the front surface the main frame being coupled to the other surface of the base plate of the orbiting scroll unit ( 200 );   a power transmission shaft ( 310 ) having a front end eccentric pin ( 311 ) rotatably coupled to the intermediate bearing ( 221   a ) of the orbiting scroll unit ( 200 ) and a body ( 313 ) rotatably coupled to the intermediate bearing ( 312 ) of the main frame ( 300 );   two rotation preventing shafts ( 320  and  330 ), each having a front end eccentric pin ( 321  or  331 ) rotatably coupled to one of the two opposite bearings ( 221   b  and  221   c ) of the orbiting scroll unit ( 200 ) and a body ( 323  or  333 ) rotatably coupled to one of the two opposite bearings ( 322 ) and the main frame ( 300 );   a rolling support device ( 400 ) for the orbiting scroll unit ( 200 ) comprised of a plate-shaped retainer cage ( 410 ) having a plurality of accommodation holes ( 430 ) distributedly formed thereon and a plurality of balls ( 420 ) made of a hard material and rollably accommodated in the accommodation holes ( 430 ) of the plate-shaped retainer cage ( 410 ), and   a means for guiding rolling of the balls of the rolling support device ( 400 ) disposed between the orbiting scroll unit ( 200 ) and the main frame ( 300 ).   
     
     
         2 . The scroll fluid machine of  claim 1 , wherein the plate-shaped retainer cage ( 410 ) of the rolling support device ( 400 ) comprises two thin plates fixedly attached to each other, pairs of arc-shaped ball caster housing halves ( 431 ) being formed to face each other by punch press machining or injection molding of each of the plates and the two attached thin plates being provided with a plurality of accommodation holes ( 430 ) formed by aligned and opposite pairs of arc-shaped ball caster housing halves ( 431 ). 
     
     
         3 . The scroll fluid machine of  claim 1 , wherein the plate-shaped retainer cage ( 410 ) of the rolling support device ( 400 ) comprises two thin plates fixedly attached to each other, pairs of arc-shaped opposite housing halves ( 432 ) being formed to face each other by cutting process of each of the plates and the two attached plates being provided with a plurality of accommodation holes ( 430 ) formed by aligned and opposing pairs of arc-shaped housing halves ( 432 ). 
     
     
         4 . The scroll fluid machine of  claim 1 , wherein the plate-shaped retainer cage ( 410 ) of the rolling support device ( 400 ) comprises a plate provided with a plurality of separate accommodation holes ( 430 ) having opposing pairs of prongs ( 433 ) formed by cutting and bending of the plate to extend outwardly and downwardly in the opposite directions. 
     
     
         5 . The scroll fluid machine of  claim 1 , wherein the plate-shaped retainer cage ( 410 ) of the rolling support device ( 400 ) comprises a plate provided with a plurality of separate accommodation holes ( 430 ) formed by a plurality of openings ( 434 ), having arc-shaped recesses facing each other, and a plurality of pairs of holding caps ( 435 ) fitted to the recesses of the openings ( 434 ). 
     
     
         6 . The scroll fluid machine of  claim 1 , wherein the center part of the plate-shaped retainer cage ( 410 ) of the rolling support device ( 400 ) is not formed with a perforation or an accommodation hole, being left as a noncontact part ( 440 ). 
     
     
         7 . The scroll fluid machine of  claim 1 , wherein the means for guiding the balls' rolling of the rolling support device ( 400 ) comprises four guides ( 411 ) having guide grooves ( 411   a ) formed along the outer circumference of the plate-shaped retainer cage ( 410 ) in its diametric direction; four guide protrusions ( 251 ) formed along the outer circumference of the orbiting scroll unit ( 200 ) and each having a through hole ( 251   a ) respectively formed on the positions corresponding to the guide grooves ( 411   a ) in a perpendicular direction to the guide grooves ( 411   a ), the guide protrusions being inserted in the guide grooves ( 411   a ) of the four guides ( 411 ) to be reciprocated toward the outer circumference of the plate-shaped retainer cage ( 410 ) from the center thereof; four rods ( 252 ) inserted in the through holes ( 251   a ) of the four guide protrusions ( 251 ); and eight supports ( 253 ) disposed on the front surface of the main frame ( 300 ) to support both ends of each of the four rods ( 252 ). 
     
     
         8 . The scroll fluid machine of  claim 7 , wherein the four guides ( 411 ) are arranged to have a right angle with each other toward the center of the plate-shaped retainer cage ( 410 ), making a cross by two lines connecting the opposite guides. 
     
     
         9 . The scroll fluid machine of  claim 1 , wherein the means for guiding rolling of the balls of the rolling support means ( 400 ) comprises two opposite guides ( 411 ) protruding from the outer circumference of the plate-shaped retainer cage ( 410 ) and having a bearing therein, and guide shafts ( 321   a  and  331   a ) formed between the bodies ( 323  and  333 ) and the eccentric pins ( 321  and  331 ) of the rotation preventing shafts ( 320  and  330 ) to be axially fixed to the bearings of the two guides ( 411 ). 
     
     
         10 . The scroll fluid machine of  claim 1 , wherein the bearings ( 221   b  and  221   c ) of the orbiting scroll unit ( 200 ) is disposed to have a right angle with a line connecting the centroid of the orbiting of the orbiting scroll unit and the center of the bearing ( 221   a ). 
     
     
         11 . The scroll fluid machine of  claim 7 , wherein the bearings ( 221   b  and  221   c ) of the orbiting scroll unit ( 200 ) is disposed to have a right angle with a line connecting the centroid of the orbiting of the orbiting scroll unit and the center of the bearing ( 221   a ). 
     
     
         12 . The scroll fluid machine of  claim 9 , wherein the bearings ( 221   b  and  221   c ), of the orbiting scroll unit ( 200 ) is disposed to have a right angle with a line connecting the centroid of the orbiting of the orbiting scroll unit and the center of the bearing ( 221   a ). 
     
     
         13 . The scroll fluid machine of  claim 1 , wherein the scroll fluid machine is an expansion type scroll fluid machine, the fixed scroll unit ( 100 ), the orbiting scroll unit ( 200 ) and the main frame ( 300 ) of which are made of stainless steel such as SUS 303F, SUS 430F, and the like, being appropriate for casting thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The scroll fluid machine of  claim 7 , wherein the scroll fluid machine is an expansion type scroll fluid machine, the fixed scroll unit ( 100 ), the orbiting scroll unit ( 200 ) and the main frame ( 300 ) of which are made of stainless steel such as SUS 303F, SUS 430F, and the like, being appropriate for casting thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The scroll fluid machine of  claim 9 , wherein the scroll fluid machine is an expansion type scroll fluid machine, the fixed scroll unit ( 100 ), the orbiting scroll unit ( 200 ) and the main frame ( 300 ) of which are made of stainless steel such as SUS 303F, SUS 430F, and the like, being appropriate for casting thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The scroll fluid machine of  claim 1 , wherein the machine further comprises a pair of circular mirror surfaced racing plates ( 270  and  370 ) disposed between the rolling support device ( 400 ) and the orbiting scroll unit ( 200 ) and between the rolling support device ( 400 ) and the main frame ( 300 ), respectively. 
     
     
         17 . The scroll fluid machine of  claim 7 , wherein the machine further comprises a pair of circular mirror surfaced racing plates ( 270  and  370 ), disposed between the rolling support device ( 400 ) and the orbiting scroll unit ( 200 ) and between the rolling support device ( 400 ) and the main frame ( 300 ), respectively. 
     
     
         18 . The scroll fluid machine of  claim 9 , wherein the machine further comprises a pair of circular mirror surfaced racing plates ( 270  and  370 ) disposed between the rolling support device ( 400 ) and the orbiting scroll unit ( 200 ) and between the rolling support device ( 400 ) and the main frame ( 300 ) respectively. 
     
     
         19 . The scroll fluid machine of  claim 1 , wherein the machine further comprises a plurality of tension springs with both ends thereof fixed to the outer circumference of the base plate of the orbiting scroll unit ( 200 ) and the main frame ( 300 ) to fix the orbiting scroll unit ( 200 ) and the main frame ( 300 ) tightly with each other. 
     
     
         20 . The scroll fluid machine of  claim 7 , wherein the machine further comprises a plurality of tension springs with both ends thereof fixed to the outer circumference of the base plate of the orbiting scroll unit ( 200 ) and the main frame ( 300 ) to fix the orbiting scroll unit ( 200 ) and the main frame ( 300 ) tightly with each other. 
     
     
         21 . The scroll fluid machine of  claim 9 , wherein the machine further comprises a plurality of tension springs ( 500 ) with both ends thereof fixed to the outer circumference of the base plate of the orbiting scroll unit ( 200 ) and the main frame ( 300 ) to fix the orbiting scroll unit ( 200 ) and the main frame ( 300 ) tightly with each other. 
     
     
         22 . The scroll fluid machine of  claim 19 , wherein both ends of each of the tension springs ( 500 ) are fixed to a spring hook bracket ( 250 ) formed on the outer circumference of the base plate of the orbiting scroll unit ( 200 ) and to a spring hook bolt ( 350 ) fastened to a bolt hole formed on the main frame ( 300 ) facing the rolling support device ( 400 ), respectively. 
     
     
         23 . The scroll fluid machine of  claim 20 , wherein both ends of each of the tension springs ( 500 ) are fixed to a spring hook bracket ( 250 ) formed on the outer circumference of the base plate of the orbiting scroll unit ( 200 ) and to a spring hook bolt ( 350 ) fastened to a bolt hole formed on the main frame ( 300 ) facing the rolling support device ( 400 ), respectively. 
     
     
         24 . The scroll fluid machine of  claim 21 , wherein both ends of each of the tension springs ( 500 ) are fixed to a spring hook bracket ( 250 ) formed on the outer circumference of the base plate of the orbiting scroll unit ( 200 ) and to a spring hook bolt ( 350 ) fastened to a bolt hole formed on the main frame ( 300 ) facing the rolling support device ( 400 ), respectively. 
     
     
         25 . The scroll fluid machine of  claim 7 , wherein two coil springs ( 254 ) are fitted to the outer surface of each rod ( 252 ) to bring both ends thereof into contact with the guide protrusions ( 251 ) and the supports ( 253 ). 
     
     
         26 . The scroll fluid machine of  claim 8 , wherein two coil springs ( 254 ) are fitted to the outer surface of each rod ( 252 ) to bring both ends thereof into contact with the guide protrusions ( 251 ) and the supports ( 253 ). 
     
     
         27 . The scroll fluid machine of  claim 11 , therein two coil springs ( 254 ) are fitted to the outer surface of each rod ( 252 ) to bring both ends thereof into contact with the guide protrusions ( 251 ) and the supports ( 253 ).